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Business centre booms _

Also, $250,000 has: been added

TERRACE — A federally-
financed business development
program has injected nearly $6
million into the area’s economy
in the last two years, says its ex-
ecutive director.

And it’s money that’ other-

wise wouldn't have .been
available up here, -says Joe
Whitney of 16-37 Community
Futures' Business Development
Centre.

What the centre does is
assemble business plans for new

or existing businesses.and then
loan its own money or add.it to ~

additional sources for a com-
bined financial package. -
“To date we’ve loaned
$601,0%) from our own ‘port-
folio but have leveraged
through other sources another

_ $4.1 million,” said Whitney.

That additional money comes
from federal and provincial
agencies which use the 16-37
centre as its contact point in the
northwest,

Ina separate -program
through the Canada Employ-
ment Centre, the centre pro-

vides $230 a week for up to 52.

weeks for people on social
assistance or on unemployment
insurance to start their own

SALES WERE down this summer for Steve Nickol at Nor.
- thwest Sportsman, Closures on fishing and about a 25 per
cent decline in Alberta tourists hurt business. Although Ger-

results next year if steelhead stocks continue to get in-
discriminately beat up by the commercial fishery atthe mouth
‘of the river. Local stocks could take another hit, he suggested,

man tourists were up somewhat, Nickoll predicts worse .

businesses.

_. That’s involved 87 people so
far for a total of $1.1 million,
said Whitney.

_The centre has. recently
received $155,000 from the
federal government for

. overhead expenses as it enters

\ if last week's rains washed out the coho fry in area streams. .

Rafters happy

TERRACE — Despite a
miserable start to the summer,
Northcoast
Adventures, a business launch-
ed in May by two Prince Rupert
businessmen, will be back next
year,

. Clients are flown up the Ex-

amnsike

we

ver Satis.’ hey then, $pénd!the

rest of the day rafting back

down the river.

? Barry Prince, who runs the
venture with Ken Seymour, says
‘fousy weather in June and July
_ dealt a $40,000 blow to the new
“venture.

+ **We’ve been kind of lickng
our wounds,” he says, ‘'We had
a bad summer — we lost over
$40,000 in business. That’s 400
people that cancelled because of
the weather.”

_ But Prince is optimistic about
next year.

: Those 400 who cancelled may.

Heli-Rafting

_ with a storm,’”

the {qinpany ish, drveranee f

ef valley to waiting -
i Hi ‘soperatihg on a sedentl river and

have set the company back
financially, but they also
demonstrate an incredible in-
terest, Prince says.

He is even talking about. AX

pansion. gate

“This business will be back
he says, adding

the possibility of offering guide"
ed heli-ridge hiking.

He says heli-skiing is snothe
possiblity.
' Prince and Seymour plan to
make a promotion video this:
fall for distribution in Japan,
Europe and the United States.

“T have no doubt at all about |
being in operation next year,"”
he said, ‘If this thing goes well,
in two years I'll have my own
helicopter,”’ he added, :

A new helicopter costs about
$1 million, while a used chopper.
costs $500,000. :

“TRAVEL TALK

IXTAPA — MEXICO «.&

Qur lushly landscaped village, complete with adobe haclendas top- “se
ped with terra-cotta tile roofs, is located on Mexico's Pacillc coast,
‘30 minutes trom Zihuatanejo Airport. Flowery cobblestone paths

lead to the open-air cocktail lounge, theater, dance floor, and iarge ‘fe ’

swimming pool. Steps bring you to tha curved beach, Evenings, 74 ,°

months, and children 2 and aver.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Geautituily redecorated air-conditioned, double occupancy rooms in
three-story beach and garden-tront bungalows. Each has two twin
beds, a window sofa and a private bathroom with shawer. Select ac-
commodatians with balcony are available for a supplement, Connec: --
ting rooms (request upon arrival) and singla rooms (extra charge; re = =

* quest when reserving) ara subject lo availability.

RESTAURANTS

The main restaurant al the heart of the village overlooks the saa and Bag’ J
serves international buflats at breakfast, lunch and dinner, At
Bistrot, linger over extended breaktast, or enjoy a romantic dinner of

-- Continental culsine served at your table of two or more. At Hibiscus,
_on the beach, sample grilled seafood and meats al tables lor two or

more.

: BEYOND THE VILLAGE’
Mexico City. Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, morning and sunset cruises, @
. Ueep-sea fishing, horseback riding, and special trips by plane to Oax-

aca, Taxco, and Guadalajara,

ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS
Brand new Baby Club (12-23 months) watcomes infants with tender (
~ loving care every comfort under the Sun, and specially prepared

meals In the Baby Restaurant,

Renovated Pelit Club (2-3 years), Mini Clubs (4-7 years) and Kids
Club (8-11 yaars) welcome children with special sports, activities,
shows (all according to age and-ability), aad meals in their own
festaurani, Scuba diving exparience in the pool for ages 4-12. inten:
sive tannis program from age 8. Special Snorkeling boat trips for

ages 8-17. Wading pool. ;

GOING PLACES”

24 4796 LAKELSE AVENUE
TERRACE, B,C. V8G 1R6

“FOR: PEOPLE

_ its third. year .of operations.

to its loan pool. .

The loan pool is also growing
without government help from’
interest payments made as

business make payments,

Whitney says the available pool:
now stands at $903,000,

This growth of the loan pool
from interest and principal
payments _ pleases Whitney
because it’ means the centre. is
generating its «own income
which
invested,

“The business development
centre is turning into something

’ exceptionally good for the area.
We've ‘had only one business
failure so far,”’ he said.

There have been three failures
in the Canada Employment
Centre's self employment incen-
tive program. ;

Whitney said businesses who
qualify for loans must first have
been turned down by. other
financial institutions. The in-
terest rate charged is two. per
cent above prime..

By definition that makes its
lending business high risk but
it’s arisk Whitney says is worth
it.

‘*We lend money on the basis
of an assumption, on an idea
about a business, banks will
lend ‘only on the on hard
assets,”" he said.

“Dye said this before and 1’ll
probably get into trouble, but
bankers nowadays are bankers,
they aren't lenders,” Whitney
added,

SPORT CARD SHOW |

_ INN OF THE WEST -
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

10 am. - 5 p.m.
; * Admission: ‘$1 00

WIDE SELECTION. . .|-
OF SPORTS CARDS .. | »
AND comics

Door PRIZES

m ae

¢

"For Information On Tables 564-7755 -

in .turn can . be re- .

Terri and Pauline would jike to extend a warm invitation to
all their clients to visit them at their new location in the
Lazelle mini-mall. Accent on Halr, formerly The House of
Shannon. Open 6 days a week-9 a.m. - & p.m. See you
soon

accent oO Nn hair

#103-47 16 Lazelle Ave. Terrace 638-1127 J

ae meet

20,000°JOBS —
WERE CREATED _
BC.LAST MONTH.

8,000" JOBS WERE ~
REATED IN ALL OF
"THE REST OF